What Is Green Power?
Green power is electricity that is generated from renewable sources and does not emit pollutant emissions. Many households have access to utility-branded green products. You can find third-party-certified choices by state.
Warehouses, superstores and factories can put solar panels on their rooftops to generate their own renewable energy. Companies with fleets of vehicles can switch to electric vehicles.
Renewable Energy Sources
Solar energy, wind, and water are all renewable sources of energy. They are replenished naturally over time, unlike fossil fuels such as coal and oil which are finite resources that will eventually run out. Renewables are a cleaner option to generate electricity, since they do not emit harmful greenhouse gases.
The most common form of green power is created by hydropower plants. Seventy-one percent of surface of the Earth is covered with water, and as it moves through a continuous cycle of raining and evaporating it creates natural energy. This process can be harnessed by the use of turbines to generate electricity. Other types of renewable energy sources include geothermal, solar, wind and biomass.
Green energy is also produced by using the sun's heat to warm water in boilers or other devices, and by producing ethanol and biodiesel from crop and plant material that would otherwise have gone to waste. Many communities are now relying on renewable energy to provide more electricity, ranging from huge offshore wind farms to solar panels for homes that are able to sell surplus energy back to the grid.
While there are a variety of renewable energy sources that can be utilized to create green power however, not all are equal. To be considered green an energy source, it must be low-emissions, zero-emissions or not emit greenhouse gases during its entire lifecycle (i.e. manufacturing installation, installation, or land use).
One way to be sure that you're using green power is to select renewable electricity that has been certified by a third party. This type of electricity is generated by solar, wind geothermal, biogas as well as other biomass types and low-impact small hydroelectric sources. It is available in all markets and provides consumers with a simple and effective way to make an environmental impact that is positive. This kind of electricity is a great option to replace traditional energy sources and reduce carbon emissions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency refers to the use of technologies and practices that use less energy to produce the same amount of products and services. This includes reducing waste from manufacturing processes and improving the design of buildings, vehicles and appliances. Energy-efficient methods also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, dependency on fossil fuels as well as pollution of the air and water. They also aid in separating the growth in GDP and energy consumption.
DNREC offers a variety of energy efficiency-related programs to schools, businesses and local governments. They include the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) and the Energy Efficiency Industrial (E2I) Program. These programs provide grant money and low-interest loans to encourage non-residential energy efficiency upgrades. Additionally, DNREC also offers rebates and tax credits for upgrades to residential energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency is an essential component in achieving ambitious goals for climate change when it is combined with renewable energy. According to IEA scenarios that if cost-effective energy efficiency measures were adopted in all areas that could make a difference, global GHG emissions would reach their peak by 2030 and by 2040, it would comprise more than 40% of total GHG reduction needed to limit temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In the future, countries are expected to double their rate of improvement in energy efficiency. This will be the only way to reach the climate mitigation targets set in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. This requires including energy efficiency in plans, policies, and investment decisions at all levels of government and society and making it a priority for companies as well as investors, consumers and.
Energy efficiency is an essential part of green power, which blends renewable energy sources with energy efficiency to provide a clean and carbon-free alternative to traditional electricity. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind geothermal, eligible biomass, and small hydroelectric sources that are low-impact. Renewable energy has to be paired with energy efficiency, whether in the form of an item or service. Green power companies can be found online, and the procedure to switch providers is quick and simple. Some companies even provide cooling off periods of two weeks period that gives customers time to decide if they really want to change their supplier.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
When fossil fuels burn, greenhouse gas emissions are released which include carbon dioxide. These gases hold heat in the atmosphere and trigger climate change. Human activities account for a significant proportion of greenhouse gas emission. Numerous studies have proven that climate change can pose environmental and economic dangers. One way to cut greenhouse gas emissions is to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Another is to generate electricity using renewable energy sources.
Electricity generation is the most significant source of greenhouse gases. In the United States more than half of all energy is produced through coal-fired power stations. Electricity generated from renewable sources like wind, geothermal, solar and small hydro with low impact generates considerably less greenhouse gases.
Other sources of greenhouse gas emissions include commercial and residential buildings and transportation. Residential and commercial buildings use significant amounts of electricity to provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Lighting, appliances and plug load, and other functions. Retrofits and "green" building techniques can make these buildings use significantly less energy. This will result in fewer greenhouse emissions.
Transport activities generate greenhouse gases due to the burning of fossil fuels for trains, cars, and trucks and planes and ships. The reduction of these emissions can be achieved by replacing gasoline powered vehicles with electric, hydrogen fuel cell or hybrid electric automobiles. The improvement in fuel efficiency can lower transportation emissions. Using renewable sources of energy to power transportation (such as biofuels, electric or low-carbon natural gas) can further reduce emissions.
Activities related to waste disposal and agriculture produce methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Methane can be produced from livestock and other practices of animal farming as well as land use and the breakdown of organic wastes in municipal landfills for solid waste. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions could be achieved through reducing these methane sources.
Utility Green Power Products
Many utilities offer green options to their customers. They are available in an array of 50 to 100 percent renewable energy and are offered as an alternative to conventional energy supply options. Contacting your utility can provide more information to customers. These products can aid in the development of greener, cleaner energy sources.
Renewable Energy Costs
As the world works toward the 2050 goal of 100 renewable energy, the cost of alternative energy sources is continuing to fall. Wind and solar power are now some of the most affordable sources of electricity available. The levelized cost, also known as LCOE is also expected to decrease as technology advances and new projects are created. The initial costs of renewable energy sources could be higher than fossil fuels, but the savings over time will offset these initial costs.
Renewables can generate clean, affordable energy with significantly less environmental impact than traditional fossil fuels. They also reduce health risks associated with coal-related respiratory illnesses and create jobs that boost the economy. In addition, they offer affordable energy prices to consumers.
Although the initial cost of building renewable facilities is usually more expensive than fossil-fuel plants, they can operate at very low cost once they're built (as their "fuel" is free). Studies show that the average home's energy costs will decrease once they switch to renewables. This is due to the fact that renewable energy sources require less infrastructure than conventional power plants and can be rolled out quickly across the country.
In addition the ongoing capital cost for renewable energy can be reduced through incentives and rebates from the government. Additionally electric power scooters have dramatically increased the cost of capital-intensive renewable energy projects but Morningstar estimates that the future interest rates will be much lower, which will reduce the costs.
An exhaustive analysis of the benefits and costs of a 100 percent renewable power system is yet to be done however, early research suggests it could have a number of significant advantages. Jesse Jenkins, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conducted a study that found that limiting renewable energy sources to non-dispatchable sources such as solar and onshore winds results in higher policy cost than the simple goal of a low-carbon electricity target.
In New York, where the majority of households buy their electricity through competitive electric markets, green power options are available to those who wish to support cleaner energy solutions. A typical green power plan draws renewable energy sources like biomass, wind, solar, and hydroelectricity. Although these options aren't currently being used to supply all the electricity used in the State however, they could provide a substantial portion. The choice to go green will create an eco-friendly and sustainable energy mix for the State of New York.